Ms Dynamite avoids jail

 Add your view

Ms Dynamite arrives at court

Rap star Ms Dynamite escaped a jail sentence today and was ordered to do 60 hours community work today after admitting slapping a police woman

The 24-year-old star was also ordered at Bow Street Magistrates Court to pay £750 compensation to Pc Caryn Marles whom she hit in the face at a West End Central London Police Station on January 6.

She had earlier been arrested for causing a disturbance outside a London nightclub.

Ms Dynamite, appearing under her real name Niomi McLean-Daley, had already pleaded guilty to assault and a public order offence.

In sparing her a jail sentence District Judge Timothy Workman told her: "The injury sustained by that one blow were obviously more considerable than first thought.

"I accept that it was one blow and in the circumstances bearing in mind your good character, you have never been in court before, you are entitled to a discount on sentence."

The court was told the police officer suffered whiplash-like injuries from the blow, has been off sick and suffered headaches and fainting.

Ms Dynamite was also ordered to pay £50 costs and a £500 fine for her part in the disturbance outside the Paragon Lounge nightclub in Hanover Street, Mayfair, central London, at 5.25am on January 6.

The star has admitted a charge under the Police Act of "assaulting Caryn Marles, a Constable in the execution of her duty".

She had also pleaded guilty to a charge under the Public Order Act of "using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour within the sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress".

Her solicitor Anthony Burton said her sister Annabell, 18, had been racially abused in the club which was the "trigger" for the row.

He told the court: "My client has absolutely no excuse for her conduct. She makes no bones about that.

"She apologies profoundly for her conduct to the officer involved Pc Marles.
"She is deeply ashamed."

He said she lashed out at the police station while trying to make it clear that she did not want to be dealt with by Pc Marles.

He said: "It was sudden and impulsive but it was not a premeditated push or strike. This was out of character behaviour.

"The other side of her, the real side of her the natural side of her. She has never been in trouble before.

"She has used her position in the community at large and in the black community for good purposes."

Mr Burton described her behaviour as "unjustified" but said it was triggered by her desire to protect her family.

Kashif Malik prosecuting told the court that despite repeated attempts officers were unable to calm the "agitated" singer down.

He said: "She kept screaming. She kept repeating the words 'you don't care, you are not bothered'.

"She was swearing and there was a short struggle."

It was then that she was arrested and taken to the police station. She lashed out at Pc Marles when the officer tried to remove her jewellery.

Mr Malik said: "She did not want to be dealt with by this officer.

"The officer was struck across the bridge of the nose with her (Ms Dynamite's) open hand and the heel of the palm.

"The officer felt pain. She described how this came as an immense shock."
Ms Dynamite was then arrested for assault.

Ms Dynamite exploded on to the music scene with her debut album A Little Deeper and won the 2002 Mercury Music Prize as well as a clutch of Brit Awards and Mobos.

She is the mother of a two-year-old son and has also become a strong spokesperson against violence, racism, bullying, child abuse, poverty, drugs and gun crime.

Judgment Day, a comeback single released in October last year reached only No 25 in the charts.

Ms Dynamite left court in a blacked-out people carrier without comment.

 

What's on today   What's on tomorrow

Receive our newsletter